Friday, November 30, 2012

Hawaii: Pearl Harbor (08/19/09)

August 23, 2009

Aloha! Elaine and I spent our belated wedding anniversary celebration this year in Honolulu, Hawaii from August 18-22, 2009.

The first place of significant interest that went to was Pearl Harbor. We left our hotel in Waikiki at about 630 am. Despite that, when we got to the Memorial, we were already in the 9 am group. We spent the waiting time going around the Museum where they had very interesting displays, scale models and actual memorabilia from the war. We also browsed around the souvenir shop there. I was able to buy a reprint of the Honolulu newspaper dated December 7, 1941, among other things. We also got to meet and talk with some real WWII vets who survived the Pearl Harbor bombings. I was observing some American tourists who said they had family members in the war, and this place really meant a lot for them.

When it was our turn, we were first shown a short but emotional film about that fateful day from actual footage from American and Japanese archives. After that, we were led out to a small shuttle boat that would take us to where the wreckage of the USS Arizona lay from the day it was sunk to now. The atmosphere of the place was hauntingly sad. Seeing the sunken remains of the great battleship and recalling the human casualties that remain in their watery grave was a very eerie experience for all.

Alongside the Memorial was docked the USS Missouri where the Instrument of Surrender of Japan was signed (on Sept. 2, 1945), which ended World War II. It also holds the distinction of being the last battleship built by the United States. The USS Missouri was finally decommissioned in 1992.






This is a scale model of the I.M.S. Akagi, the flagship of the Japanese Imperial Strike Force during the attack on Pearl Harbor -- a very impressive aircraft carrier indeed.

Japanese Imperial Navy Type 91 torpedoes
Normally dropped from 100 meters, diving to nearly that depth before leveling off and running to the target. The relatively shallow 40-foot depth of Pearl Harbor necessitated modifications to the torpedo design and attack strategy. Outfitted with wooden, breakaway fins, and dropped from 10 meters above the water by 40 Nakajima Type 97 attack planes, the aerial torpedo proved devastatingly effective. This torpedo was found accidentally in the early 1990's by a dredging company in the channel off Ford Island.

A Purple Heart Medal


Pearl Harbor Overview

Launching Medal of USS Arizona

Talking to WWII Vets

Autographing a Book for Us


The Memorial Comes into View









The USS Missouri

A Watery Grave

The wall of names of those lost on December 7, 1941. 
The marble piece on the left set before the wall lists the names of survivors of the attack, but that have since passed and have had their remains placed underwater on the wreck of the USS Arizona. This so movingly and dramatically demonstrates the camaraderie and familial feelings between shipmates.


























22 comments:

  1. Interesting choice of destination for an anniversary celebration. May I ask what made you decide on Pearl Harbor?

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    1. Hi Hana. Our destination was really Honolulu. Pearl Harbor is just one of the places we visited, no special reason except for its historical significance.

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  2. Happy Wedding Anniversary Fred and to your wife, thinking it should be in a beach but you guys decided in a historical place, so cool! :)

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    1. Thank you. This was just the first place we visited on our vacation. The rest are actually mostly beaches! :-)

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  3. What an interesting wedding anniversary destination and I wonder how you feel seeing all those names and talking to the veterans? I got goosebumps seeing the photos. Would love to visit there too one day :) Thank you for sharing the photos Fred.

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  4. What an interesting personal experienced you've got here with photos similar to the movie, Pearl Harbor. You really got your share in life visiting this place. For all the heroes on that day, I salute to them all.

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  5. Wow! This is such an interesting destination! I've always wanted to go to Hawaii myself. Will definitely keep the Pearl Harbor in mind when I finally get the chance to go. I'd want to learn more about Pearl Harbor and also pay respect to the brave heroes.

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  6. Happy Wedding Anniversary to you and your wife! Historical places and beaches are definitely good combinations for wedding anniversary. I look forward to your Hawaii pictures too and wish you both more lovely anniversaries to spend together.

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  7. Pearl Harbor save a million stories history timeless, What a joy when you can get there...

    http://www.indojelajah.com/

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  8. Happy anniversary! I've never been to Hawaii before! Will love to visit someday, especially Pearl Harbour.

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  9. I was so moved when I saw the movie 'Pearl Harbour' ... would love to visit the place in actual. The fact that you got to meet war veterans is such a plus!

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  10. Pearl Harbor is so rich with history and bitter war memories. It's great that they honor the people who fought during the war.

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  11. I hope to travel Hawaii too. Always heard of it since young.

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  12. Happy anniversary! This look like a perfect place for honeymoon getaway.

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  13. Such an amazing place to travel to.. Happy Anniversary!~

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  14. I'm curious to see the pearl harbor and hawaii too! They say it's a beautiful country.

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  15. I've heard about this site and what a powerful experience people have visiting it. I'd love to go see it someday.

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  17. Happy Anniversary! Hawaii is a place worth going. Thanks for showing me the USS Arizona Memorial. I wish to go there one day.

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  18. Happy anniversary to you and your wife! Historically important places like pearl harbor interest me because they made such an impact to our history. I would love to have met those veterans and listen to their stories and thank them for their bravery.

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  19. congrats on your wedding anniversary! salute to all men& women in the army all around the world

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  20. Congrats to your wedding anniversary !! Hawaii seems like a dream to me ! Amazing place, you could put more pics of the beach :D

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